Water flow monitoring system determining the presence of leaks and stopping flow in water pipes

• US 6,317,051 B1
• Filed: 08/02/1999
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey D. Cohen
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey D. Cohen
• Inventors: Cohen, Jeffrey David
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Application Number:
  US09/365,511
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 340/603, 340/604, 340/605, 340/606, 340/609, 340/611
• US Class Current: 340/603
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2807 for pipes G01M3/2892, G01M3/30 take precedence

Abstract

A water flow monitoring system for determining the presence of leaks in plumbing pipes having water flowing through the pipes under high pressure includes a flow monitor which is mounted to the pipe for sensing the flow of water through the pipe. A controller composed of a timer and/or accumulated volume meter associated with the flow monitor, to determine when the flow has continued for a preselected period of time, and/or when the amount of water has exceeded a preselected accumulated volume threshold, and logic components responsive to changes in flow rate. Upon detection of flow for the preselected period of time, and/or preselected accumulated volume threshold, a valve is actuated to stop flow through the pipe.

Claims

1. In a fluid flow monitoring system for determining the presence of leaks in plumbing pipes of a plumbing pipe system having fluid flowing therethrough under high pressure, the system comprising

a flow monitoring device mounted to a pipe of the plumbing pipe system for sensing the flow of fluid through the pipe,

control means to monitor time, flow rate, and accumulated volume measurands received from said flow monitor, said control means comparing current flow rate to prior flow rates during water usage and resetting to zero the time and accumulated volume measurands during continuous flow upon detecting sufficient decrease in flow rate, and

action taking means actuated by said control means when continuous said flow exceeds measurand limits.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said decrease in flow rate is greater than or equal to 0.5 gallons per minute.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said decrease in flow rate is greater than or equal to 1.0 gallons per minute.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said decrease in flow rate is greater than or equal to 2.0 gallons per minute.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said control means actuates said action taking means when the period of time of continuous flow sensed by said monitor device also exceeds a predetermined period of time.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said control means actuates said action taking means when the accumulated volume of flow sensed by said monitor device also exceeds a predetermined accumulated volume of flow.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein control is temporarily suspended during present water-use period in response to said control means receiving a signal transmitted by the water user through the pressurized water system and received by said control means.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein control is temporarily suspended in response to said control means receiving a high water flow, low water flow, high water flow signal transmitted by the water user through the pressurized water system and received by said control means.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein said signal is a number of on-off water flow pulses greater than or equal to one.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein control is automatically restored immediately after said water-use period ends.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein said control means warns the water user with a series of off-on water pulses to alert that water flow will soon cease as a result of reaching a time and/or accumulated volume limit.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said warning is one or more off-on water pulses communicated through said water system caused by said controller toggling said action taking means.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein response to said warning results in restoring water flow.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein response to said warning is a momentary decrease of water flow by the water user.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein response to said warning results in rezeroing of the time and accumulated volume measurands.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein response to said warning results in an increase of preselected period of time.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein response to said warning results in an increase of preselected period of time of greater than or equal to one minute.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein response to said warning results in an increase of preselected accumulated volume.

19. The system of claim 11 wherein response to said warning results in an increase of preselected accumulated volume of greater than or equal to one gallon.

20. The system of claim 11 wherein failure to respond to said warning results in activation of said action taking means.